Nitin Gadkari flags off cargo movement on Pandu-Dhubri route of Brahmaputra river

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In a major boost to the inland waterways in the North East, Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday flagged off cargo movement on the Pandu-Dhubri route along the Brahmaputra. This largely untapped sector has great potential, and has plenty of cost advantages.

Stating that modern and well-equipped river ports will be established along the banks of the river, the minister said transportation of cargo through the National Waterway 2 - from Pandu in Guwahati to Dhubri along the Assam-Bengal border will reduce logistics cost and save 300 km road travel.

Waterways are regarded as natural transport routes. India has around 14500 kms of waterways which were for long, untapped. It was only under Prime Minister Modi's insistent patronage that waterways became a significnt part of the govt's transport agenda.

If the as yet untapped potential of the country's waterways is tapped, it will revolutionise the transportation system in the country and the overburdened road and rail systems will experience some relief. Gadkari lays foundation stone for Brahmaputra Board office complex at Majuli island

Transport Minister also laid the foundation for a project to preserve and protect the fast eroding banks of the river island Majuli.

Here's how transportation through waterways is cheaper

---1 horse power helps transport 150 kgs by road and 500 kgs by rail, while it can transport around 4000 kgs via waterways...

---1 liter of fuel helps transport just 24 tons of cargo per kilometer by road

---The corresponding figure by rail is 85 tons

---But with the same fuel, 105 tons of cargo can be transported via waterways

As of now, there are 6 interstate waterways in India

---1st from Allahabad to Haldia

---2nd from Sadiya to Dhubri

--- 3rd from Kollam to Kottapuram

---4th from Kakinada to Marakkanam

---5th from Talchar to Dhamra

---6th from Lakhipur to Bhhanga

The govt is promoting waterways in a big way to boost economic activity. Part of this is the ambitious project to harness 105 rivers nationwide connecting every region and making the system beneficial for many landlocked states.